Relay switch housing

ABSTRACT

A relay switch arrangement having split housings associated with and divergently movable with respect to a base and to each other and detent means provided therebetween to allow the housings to be opened and to be maintained open against the forces tending to cause closure thereof so as to allow for ease in servicing of the magnetic frame, coil and armature-moving contact assembly of the relay switch arrangement which are encompassed by the base and the housings.

United States Patent Kane [ 5] Mar. 7,1972

[54] RELAY SWITCH HOUSING [72] Inventor: Hugh Kane, Freepon, ill. [73] Assignee: Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. [22] Filed: Aug. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 66,943

[52] U.S. Cl

[51] Int. Cl. ..H01h 50/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..335/l32, 202; 317/120; 200/168 A, 166 B [56] References Cited 3 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,376,086 4/1953 fisherfl 317/120 3,243,564 3/l966 Burch .200/168A Primary ExaminerHarold Broome Attorney-Lamont B. Koontz and Philip .I. Zrimsek [57] ABSTRACT A relay switch arrangement having split housings associated with and divergently movable with respect to a base and to each other and detent means provided therebetween to allow the housings to be opened and to be maintained open against the forces tending to cause closure thereof so as to allow for ease in servicing of the magnetic frame, coil and armaturemoving contact assembly of the relay switch arrangement which are encompassed by the base and the housings.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 7 I972 3,648,203

' INVENTOR. HUGH KANE ATTORNEY.

RELAY SWITCH HOUSING This invention is related to a relay switch arrangement of the type which includes a base and a pair of similar split housings that are associated with the base and together therewith when in the assembled condition encompass the magnetic elements and moving contacts of the relay. Further, this invention is related to such an arrangement wherein the split housings can be divergently moved with respect to each other and the base so as to allow servicing of the magnetic elements and the moving contacts as well as the fixed contacts of the relay. More particularly, the invention is directed to means for maintaining the split housings in the open divergent condition against the forces of gravity (where this is a factor), accidental impact, the forces provided by stiff electrical wires connected to the fixed contacts carried by the split housings (where this is the case), and the like. Further, as so provided, the means limit disassembly of the split housings from the base thereby precluding loose housings being encountered. Also the means can be devised to maintain the base and the split housings in the assembled condition.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention where the split housings are pivotally associated with and partially overlay portions of the base, the means utilized on the one hand to maintain the open divergent condition of the housings and on the other hand to maintain the assembled condition of the base and the housings is in the form of resilient detents provided between the base and the housings.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a relay switch arrangement of the base and associated split housing type with which detent means are associated so that when the split housings are in an open divergent condition with respect to each other and to the base they are so maintained against external forces thus allowing for ease in servicing of the magnetic elements and contacts of the relay.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following specification and claims when read in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a relay incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the relay of FIG. 1 in an open condition with the split housings divergently moved with respect to each other and the base and with portions of the housings broken away to more clearly show the construction;

and

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the relay of FIG. 1.

A multipole relay 10, shown assembled in FIG. 1 and partially disassembled in FIG. 2, includes a base member 12 having a cavity 12a in which a magnetic frame member, not shown, is secured and a coil, not shown, is disposed. Straddling and pivotally associated at the lower portions of the base member 12, as will be detailed below, are a pair of bifurcated split housing members 14 and 16, the upper portions 14a and 16a, respectively, of which are arranged to overlay the cavity 12a when in the assembled condition. The housings l4 and 16 support a plurality of terminal members 18 each of which include a fixed contact portion 18a and further support coil terminals l9. Disposed between the housings 14 and 16 and arranged for association and relative inward and outward reciprocal movement therewith and with said base 12 is an assembly 20 comprised of an armature, not shown, a bias plate 22 and a bifurcated moving contact carrier 24. A plurality of U-shaped moving contact bridging bars 26 are supported by the moving contact carrier 24, and the extremities are arranged, with housings 14 and 16 in the assembled condition, for association with a respective pair of fixed contact portions 18a to provide the switching function. The moving contact carrier 24 and the armature, not shown, are suitably secured together with the bias plate 22 resiliently disposed therebetween for limited relative reciprocal movement therewith as will become apparent below.

In the assembled condition, as shown in FIG. 1, the bias plate 22 is seated on posts 12b and 120 of the base 12 and overlaid by the upper portions 14a and 16a of the housings l4 and 16, respectively, as will be detailed below, so as to be maintained as a prisoner therebetween. Further, in the assembled condition, leg portions 24a of the moving contact carrier 24 are guided in slots 12d of the base 12 and between opposite guide surfaces 14b and 16b of the housings l4 and 16, respectively, so as to allow for reciprocal movements of the carrier and the armature, not shown, toward and away from the magnetic frame, not shown, upon the energization and deenergization of the coil, not shown. Inward reciprocal movement of the moving contact carrier 24 from the at rest position," shown in FIG. 1, upon energization results in relative movement with the bias plate 22 and the generation of a return force caused by spring means, not shown, disposed therebetween being compressed. Consequently, outward reciprocal movement upon deenergization is provided by the return force. Such reciprocal movements of course cause a change in the condi tion of the poles formed of the respective sets of fixed contact portions 18a and bridging bars 26.

The foregoing general description is merely to set a framework for the invention and as such forms no real part of it. The inventive concept is set forth below.

As indicated above, the housings 14 and 16 are pivotally associated with the base 12 and are arranged to be pivotally movable therewith from the position shown in FIG. 1 to those in FIG. 2 for the purpose of servicing the various elements of the relay 10 such as the magnetic frame, armature and coil, all not shown, and the bridging bars 26.

The pivotal association is in the form of pivotal connections provided between the housings l4 and 16 and the base 12 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The housings 14 and 16 each include a pair of inwardly extending keyed lugs 14c and 14d and I6c and 16d, respectively, at the lower extremities thereof for association and disposal in keyed slots 12e and 12f located in the lower portion of the base 12. Coil springs 28 are disposed and compressed between the lugs 14c, 14d, 16c and 16d and the upper end of the slots 12:: and 12f to bias the housings l4 and I6 downwardly. Sufficient clearance between the lugs 14c, 14d, 16c and 16d and the slots 12e and 12f including the keyed interconnections allows for the relative pivotal movement of the housings l4 and 16 with respect to the base 12.

The upper portions 14a and 16a of the housings 14 and 16, respectively, each include a pair of spaced protrusions Me and 16e, respectively, formed integrally therewith for selective association with depressions 12g and 12h provided in the base 12. It will be appreciated that the bias force provided by the compression of coil springs 28 causes the protrusions Me and l6e to be biased against the depressions 12g and 12h as viewed in FIG. 2.

The detent means in the form of the bias force and the interaction of the depressions 12g and 12h and protrusions l4e and 16e is such as to maintain the housing members 14 and 16 in the chosen divergent condition when so disposed against the forces of gravity and impact and the other forces acting to cause a convergent or further divergent movement.

Two sets of depressions 12g and 12h are provided in the base 12 in the preferred embodiment and as shown in FIG. 2 so that the housings 14 and 16 can be selectively placed in a partially divergent condition as is the case with housing 16, and a fully divergent condition as is the case with housing 14. When in the partially divergent condition whereby the protrusions (referring to housing 16 of FIG. 2) are associated with the depressions 123, the housings are spaced apart only an amount which allows for partial withdrawal of the assembly 20 to carry out the necessary examination of the bridging bars 26 and servicing of the fixed contact portions 18a. In this condition only partial withdrawal of the assembly 20 is permitted due to the armature, not shown, being disposed with its longitudinal dimension transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the moving contact carrier 24 and the longitudinal dimension of the armature being such that the overlying upper portions 14a and 16a of the housings I4 and I6, respectively, do not permit clearance of the armature. However, should the magnetic frame armature or coil, all not shown, require servicing, (referring now to housing 14 of FIG. 2) the protrusions are associated with the depressions 12/: and adequate clearance between the overlying upper portions 14a and 16a of the housings l4 and 16, respectively, is provided for movement therepast of the assembly 20 including the armature and of course the magnetic frame and the coil.

As just set forth, the relay 10 has been described with respect to its open conditions. For a description of the closed condition of the relay 10, attention is directed to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the closed condition, the bias force provided by the compression of coil springs 28 is also utilized. Thus, with the relay as shown in FIG. 1, the overlying upper portions 14a and 16a of the housings l4 and 16, respectively, are associated with the bias plate 22 and specifically the protrusions Me and 16e thereof are associated with, referring to FIG. 2, depressions 22a provided in the bias plate. The bias force and the interaction of the depressions 22a and protrusions Me and 16e is such as to maintain the housings in a closed condition against the forces of gravity and impact and such other forces tending to cause a divergent condition.

Other means can be utilized to maintain the closed condition in place of or to supplement the arrangement just described. For example, a hinged closure strip 30 can be secured between the housings 14 and 16 by conventional fasteners.

With the present invention as just described, a pivotal split housing relay has been provided which allows for partial disassembly by divergent movement of the housings with respect to a base member and further allows for maintained divergent positioning of the housings against external forces by detent means provided between the housing and the base. Other forms of the invention then disclosed herein are possible and therefore the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims.

lclaim:

l. A relay switch housing comprising: a base having a magnetic frame and coil associated therewith; a reciprocally movable armature-contact carrier assembly for association with said base, frame and coil; a pair of oppositely disposed, similar split housings associated with and including portions overlying said base so that said base and said housings in assembled condition encompass said frame, coil and assembly and provide guidance for said assembly in its reciprocal movement under the influence of said frame and coil for causing changes in condition of the relay switch contacts; said housings arranged to be divergently moved from each other and with respect to said base while still being associated therewith and thus allowing for the selective servicing of said frame, coil and assembly; and resilient detent means provided between and resiliently loading said housings against said base to maintain said divergence and to limit disassembly thereof.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said detent means incorporates engaging protrusions and depressions therebetween.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said housings are pivotally associated with said base.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the resilient loading is provided by springs disposed between said base and a portion of said housings proximate the pivotal areas thereof and the protrusions and depressions are disposed on overlying portions of said housings and contiguous surfaces of said base.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein the resilient loading also serves to maintain said base and said housings in the assembled condition.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said detent means includes provisions for two discrete divergent positions of said housings, one of which allows for partial withdrawal of said assembly and the other of which allows for complete withdrawal of said frame, coil and assembly. 

1. A relay switch housing comprising: a base having a magnetic frame and coil associated therewith; a reciprocally movable armature-contact carrier assembly for association with said base, frame and coil; a pair of oppositely disposed, similar split housings associated with and including portions overlying said base so that saiD base and said housings in assembled condition encompass said frame, coil and assembly and provide guidance for said assembly in its reciprocal movement under the influence of said frame and coil for causing changes in condition of the relay switch contacts; said housings arranged to be divergently moved from each other and with respect to said base while still being associated therewith and thus allowing for the selective servicing of said frame, coil and assembly; and resilient detent means provided between and resiliently loading said housings against said base to maintain said divergence and to limit disassembly thereof.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said detent means incorporates engaging protrusions and depressions therebetween.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said detent means incorporates engaging protrusions and depressions therebetween.
 3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said housings are pivotally associated with said base.
 4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein the resilient loading is provided by springs disposed between said base and a portion of said housings proximate the pivotal areas thereof and the protrusions and depressions are disposed on overlying portions of said housings and contiguous surfaces of said base.
 5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein the resilient loading also serves to maintain said base and said housings in the assembled condition.
 6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said detent means includes provisions for two discrete divergent positions of said housings, one of which allows for partial withdrawal of said assembly and the other of which allows for complete withdrawal of said frame, coil and assembly. 